House of Percy

The House of Percy was the most powerful family in northern England for much of the Middle Ages, having descended from William the Conqueror's Norman companion William de Percy, who arrived in England in December 1067. The Percys rebuilt York Castle in 1070, and members of the family would often hold the titles Earl or Duke of Northumberland and Baron Percy. The Percy family once rebelled against King Henry IV of England from 1403 to 1408, with Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland and his son Harry Hotspur rising up in response to their family's mistreatment at the hands of the monarchy. Their rebellion was crushed at the Battle of Shrewsbury, ending their dominance in the north.